↓
 

Texbiker.net

Texas Bicycling News, Events, Experiences

  • Home
  • Texas Bike Event Calendars
  • Texbiker Event Calendar
    • Upcoming Biking Events Agenda List
  • Bike Shop Listing
    • Texas Bike Shops Map
  • Contact Texbiker.net
  • Resources
    • Texas State Parks and Biking
    • Preventing a Crash, and What to do if You Are Hit
    • Understanding Road Rage: How To Manage Your Own Emotions on the Road and Deal With Others
    • Get Local – PeopleForBikes
    • Bike Tips
    • Bike Ride Maps
  • Texbiker.net HQ Weather Conditions
  • About Texbiker.net
Home - Page 1621 << 1 2 … 1,619 1,620 1,621 1,622 1,623 … 2,806 2,807 >>

Upcoming Texas Biking Events

Strava Activity

About Texbiker.net

Texbiker.net covers the news, events and resources for those interested in Texas bicycling.

My bicycling passion was rekindled in 1979 with a Huffy bicycle from Woolco. From early rides around my neighborhood my enthusiasm grew to tackle my unsupported first century. From there I discovered organized rides all over Texas, races and mountain bikes. Many bikes and miles later the enthusiasm is still there.

Thanks to my late wife, Hazel Marie, for her support over the many years, miles and rides.

My primary bike is the Cervelo Caledonia Rival AXS below. My titanium bike is the Lynskey Helix titanium. My newest bike is a Canyon Endurace CF 7 Rival eTap.

3-29-2022 Cervelo Caledonia Ramsey Road-1
3-29-2022 Cervelo Caledonia at a Ramsey Road Bridge
Lynksey Helex at a Kingwood Lake
10-18-2023 Canyon Endurace Valley Ranch-1
10-18-2023 Canyon Endurace CF 7 Valley Ranch

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Hanging by Two Wires

Texbiker.net Posted on March 14, 2014 by Rick AnkrumDecember 2, 2016

I missed riding yesterday (Thursday) even though the weather was great. Instead I stayed home to fix our ceiling fan in the master bath. Wednesday evening my wife and I were sitting in the room I label “the computer facility” when we heard a noise like something fell. I did an inspection to find the problem but I did not find  anything. When we started getting ready for bed I was walking across our master bath and the two pull chains from the fan hit my head. This should not happen since I cut them to be above my head. Looking up I saw the ceiling fan hanging by two electrical wires from the junction box which had fallen from the ceiling. It was about 1:00AM Thursday morning so I went to the garage for the 6 ft. step ladder. My plan was to at least get the fan down on the floor and fix the problem Thursday morning. The 6 ft. ladder would not get me high enough to reach the 12 ft. ceiling where the fan was hanging from. Out to the garage to get the extension ladder. Putting the ladder up I was able to get the fan down.

In the morning after breakfast I inspected the area and found the screw that held the metal junction box up had come loose. I am not sure why. For 22 years another fan hung from this junction box without any problem. Three months ago as part of our bath remodel I replaced the 22 year old fan with a new one. The only major difference with the new one was a light kit was added. Looking at the screw that held the junction box up I tried to reattached the box to the bracket above the ceiling but I could not get it to thread into the bracket. I went to the hardware store to get a longer bolt but I it was too long so back for a shorter one. After many tries reaching up and out I finally got the bolt threaded into the bracket and the box backup where it was supposed to be. Now hanging the fan I had to remove the blades to have room to wire up the electrical. The fan was hung and the electrical wires attached. The fan worked and as bonus the annoying clicking sound was gone. I put the blades back on and the light globes. By the time I got finished it was after 2:00 in the afternoon. My legs were exhausted from standing in odd positions on the ladder. At one point I went to the garage to look for a bolt and my left knee screamed in pain. I almost wasn’t able to walk back inside but it let up and I went back up the ladder.

So I missed the beautiful biking weather and rested my legs for today. It appears my legs are still recovering today. When I rode into the wind the power wasn’t there to keep my speed up above 15 mph. This pulled my overall average speed down to 15.0 mph which I was able to reach thanks to some tailwind on the way home from Huffman. I added a few extra streets to my typical route to Huffman for a little extra mileage to compensate for not riding yesterday. I ended up biking 32.84 miles which put my March miles at 263.76, over half way to the 505 mile goal (242 miles to go). With 17 days left the potential to reach the goal looks better. This week I biked 132.77 miles and 968 miles year to date.

The weather was not as bright as yesterday with a mostly overcast sky. The wind was 12 mph from the SSE and the temperature hovered at 71 degrees. Tomorrow looks like 80% chance of rain so I don’t know if I will ride.

[wppa type=”slide” album=”290″ size=”auto”][/wppa]

[iframe http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/460913981 470px 570px]

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2342426/embed 95% 700px]

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Twitter
Posted in Bike Ride | Tagged Atascocita - Walden - Huffman, Bike Ride Report, Motobecane Le Champion CF, Road | Leave a reply

Texas Bicycling News and Blog Digest March 13th

Texbiker.net Posted on March 14, 2014 by Rick AnkrumMarch 14, 2014

Cycling, R2R helps in recovery process

By Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Sports Editor

For one Warrior Transition Brigade Soldier, one with nearly 1,000 miles of cycling under her belt from Ride 2 Recovery challenges alone, cycling wasn’t always ingrained in her life like it is today.
In fact, for a stretch of 22 years, from her teenage days into her 30s, Staff Sgt. Kennetta Gunns didn’t even lay a hand on a bike.
“I was 15, and I crashed my bike,” Gunns said. “I hadn’t touched a bike again until I was 37 when I first got here in 2012, probably about two months after I got here (to Fort Hood). I bought a mountain bike, I rode it probably about once every three or four days, because my physical therapist had told me that riding a back would help me stay in shape since I…


League City cyclist killed in hit-and-run collision

By T.J. AULDS        www.galvestondailynews.com (subscription required)

LEAGUE CITY — An apparent hit-and-run driver killed a 45-year-old man riding his bike early Thursday morning, police said.
Shortly after the fatal wreck, a video camera nearby captured what police say could be the driver suspected of hitting the cyclist. …


Katherine’s Story: #myrideto Wellness

by djcurtin            Bicycle Sport Shop’s Offical Cycling Blog

This is a more common story than you think. Even around the shop. Finding the bike and riding it to wellness. We all have to start, or maybe even restart, somewhere. So whether it’s your first foray into cycling with one of our get started bike and accessory packages or you’re climbing on a bike that’s been collecting more dust than miles, Katherine’s story will resonate with you like it did with us.
Katherine’s Ride to Wellness
One morning I realized my life could be different.
I had a serious back injury, which required major surgery. I was so depressed with my life, the constant pain in my spine and leg and the frustrations of limited mobility, that I gained weight to the point of weighing about 270 pounds. I am not exactly sure what made me have that epiphany years ago. All I know is I realized my life didn’t have to be horrible.I decided to take action. I knew I needed help. I called a medical doctor, a counselor and a nutritionist. I wanted a doctor to verify my medical health and…


Bike Thefts Spike in Allandale Neighborhood

by Gene Davis        www.austinpost.org

With more than 20 bikes stolen in the Allandale area over the past two months, the Austin Police Department has issued a warning to residents of the North Central Austin neighborhood to lock up their two-wheeled friends.
Most of the bikes were taken from home storage areas such as garages and sheds, according to an APD memo sent to area residents. (Allandale is the neighborhood bordered by MoPac to the West, Burnet Road to the East, West Anderson Lane to the North, and West 45th Street to the…


New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

New Bike Event: Midwestern State University Vuelta del Viento – Wichita Falls, TX: When: Sat Apr 12, 2014 8am … http://t.co/SoFk2GMGtm

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014

New Bike Event: Midwestern State University Vuelta del Viento – Wichita Falls, TX: When: Sun Apr 13, 2014 8am … http://t.co/4XNnwJAety

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014


Tweets

Week one @PureAustin Driveway results are up! #goodtimes http://t.co/Yr72M7dUxL

— Driveway Series (@DrivewaySeries) March 14, 2014

@DrivewaySeries Great start to 2014 #drivewayraces season! Thanks for helping promote #fitkids too! #payitforward pic.twitter.com/B7cVS9fMYP

— Boneshaker Project (@Boneshaker_Proj) March 14, 2014

#KHOU AT 6: Police say 2 people caught on camera trying to cover up evidence in a hit and run accident with a bike. pic.twitter.com/cvcIj75MSI

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) March 13, 2014

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/444178596203352064

Alkekians, we are looking for some past Youth Cycling League Summer Program participants to give us some video… http://t.co/FL4jJzpkRR

— Alkek Velodrome (@AlkekVelodrome) March 13, 2014

Got to show a young woman how to air up her tires properly this morning (incl. finding the PSI on the tire). I love my job!

— Su Wilcox (@cheekysu) March 13, 2014

You can watch fellow Texan @Lolly1236R race in europe this Saturday http://t.co/VAd61ur80e

— ATC Racing (@ATCRacingTeam) March 13, 2014

I had to take a detour from my usual route to work, which added 4 hills to my trip. A guy nearby cheered me up the 1st one. 🙂

— Su Wilcox (@cheekysu) March 13, 2014

Houston Mayor names cyclist Dir of Planning! Gives mandate for bike plan! http://t.co/04a7YUe8hC @Cyclingnewsfeed pic.twitter.com/R39y6V6ciZ

— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) March 13, 2014

Leading out the big green @DNARacingTeam train @WheelerCrit #hammer #bigringriding pic.twitter.com/3R3Rg0un2s

— Michael Johnson (@MJDrive) March 13, 2014


Event Reminders

2 Day Alert: Bicycle Sport Shop Pace Bend Race – Spicewood, TX, Mar 15, 2014 09:00AM – 2501 Pace Bend Pk Rd N ,Spicewood, TX(CST) http://zp

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014

2 Day Alert: SETHBC Big Thicket Bike Tour – Kountze, TX, Mar 15, 2014 08:00AM – 6102 Farm to Market Road 420, Kountze, TX, United States(CST

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014

2 Day Alert: B-geO Magnolia Miles 2014 – Manolia, TX, Mar 15, 2014 08:00AM – Magnolia WEST High School, 42202 FM 1774 Rd., Magnolia, TX(CST)

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014

2 Day Alert: Spring Fever Bike Race – Sulphur Springs, TX, Mar 15, 2014 08:00AM – Downtown, Sulphur Springs, TX(CST) http://t.co/8qwgcG8VoC

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014

2 Day Alert: Fayetteville Stage Race – Fayetteville, TX, Mar 15, 2014 07:30AM – FM159, Fayetteville, TX(CST) http://t.co/WNxRyn9exy

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 13, 2014

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Twitter
Posted in Bicycling News | Leave a reply

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Digest March 12th

Texbiker.net Posted on March 13, 2014 by Rick AnkrumMarch 13, 2014

Texas Panhandle park reopens following wildfire

www.chron.com


CANYON, Texas (AP) — A state park in the Texas Panhandle has reopened following a wildfire that scorched about 15 acres and closed the site for a day.
The Texas A&M Forest Service says Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Canyon reopened to visitors Wednesday morning.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department spokesman Mike Cox says the more than…


Texas Lions Camp celebrates 65th anniversary with 10-day bicycle trip

by Marty Watson Reporter    www.kevo.com


BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS (KVEO NEWSCENTER 23) — The Texas Lions Camp is celebrating its 65th anniversary by kicking off a bicycle ride for its members who will bike from Brownsville to Kerrville.
Bicyclists from the Texas Lions Camp rode around Brownsville before gathering at the Brownsville Events Center this morning.
The cyclists will travel about 340 miles before reaching Kerrville in ten days.
The Texas Lions Camp is designed for children with disabilities.
Along the ride, they will have…


Texas Adventure Racing Club


Interview – Ark-La-Tex – Texarkana

www.wheelbrothers.com

Who is pumped for another great ride for a great cause? We sat down for an awesome interview with Ride Director, Nick Williamson. Read on for all the details for the Ark-La-Tex Challenge, which takes place this year on April 5, 2014.
Ark-LA-Tex Challenge
1.         Why join your ride?
The Ark-La-Tex Challenge is a bucket list ride for all Southerners.  You can ride in 3 states in a mere 70 miles.  We have had so many of our 4 states area cyclists tell us how  much fun our very first ride in 2013 was and how much they are looking forward to the course and scenery in 2014.
2.         How long has your ride been around?
2013 was our very first ride with 115 participants.  With the enthusiasm and a challenging course we are looking for 300+ for our sophomore year of 2014.
Ark-La-Tex 2014
3.         What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it? …


You Won’t Believe Why Bike Prices Keep Going Up!

www.texasmountainbiketrails.com


It’s not often that I copy and paste over something from another site, but this is something that really stuck out to me and I think it’s a great question that we all have, “Why the $#@% does that bike cost $7,000!!” Check out the opinion below and chime in with your thoughts as a comment.
Originally published by Vernon Felton at BikeMag.com
We get hate mail for a lot of reasons—a comma is out of place, one of us has a goatee, some of us have British accents… Apparently, there are a lot of reasons we suck. None gets cited more often, however, than the pricey bikes we profile in the pages of Bike magazine and on this site. The general sentiment from angry readers…


Grampies Go South

By Steve Miller and Dodie Miller

Day 67: Marfa to ??? likely a Wild Camp somewhere on the way to Van Horn
Wednesday March 12, 2014
We had left the window slightly open, and we woke up when it entered our consciousness that what sounded like passing cars was actually passing wind gusts. Not again!!
I went out to walk down to the Subway, to bring back a Breakfast Sandwhich, and found the wind to be the type you need to brace yourself against while walking. The question was, what truly was the direction. Pieces of tissue dropped in front of me headed off as this would be a tail wind, at least on this street. The only thing is, this street does not conform well to our general direction for the day. Our navigation department says the true fact on average will be a headwind, coming obliquely from our right hand side.
So again we thought, should we stick it out and hide here? Well, just as Grampies do not believe in going back, they are very reluctant to hide out. On the other hand, there will not be another Chia out there. There will be no one out there! Oh well, as I write this we are packing up. When we see a glimmer of daylight, we are off!
Meanwhile, on the wall of this rather elegant room is a poster for the movie “Be Here To Love Me”, a film about Townes Van Zandt. The poster is here because…


New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

New Bike Event: TWFG Insurance Services Gran Fondo – Hockley, TX: When: Sun Mar 30, 2014 7:30am to 3pm 
CDTWho… http://t.co/dnaLLIh8KZ

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: 10th Annual Spokes 'n Spurs – Liberty Hill, TX: When: Sat Apr 5, 2014 8:30am to 4pm 
CDTWhere:… http://t.co/UpVgDjbFG5

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Tour de Cypress Ride and Run – Mount Vernon, TX: When: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9am to 2pm 
CDTWhere: … http://t.co/5Hc0gfhY2S

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Tour de Paris – Paris, TX: When: Sat Jul 19, 2014 8am to 1:30pm 
CDTWhere: 2025 South Collegia… http://t.co/uPR0vR6nFM

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Bike MS: Valero Ride the Rim – Canyon, TX: When: Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:30am to 1pm 
CDTWhere: Buf… http://t.co/rqhhRiw5bV

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Bike MS: Valero Ride the Rim – Canyon, TX: When: Sun Jun 22, 2014 8am to 12pm 
CDTWhere: Buffa… http://t.co/ME6oEhqq2Z

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Bike MS: Cactus & Crude – Midland, TX: When: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7am to 2pm 
CDTWhere: Apache Cor… http://t.co/sEhpZ2AFWM

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Bike MS: Cactus & Crude – Big Spring, TX: When: Sun Jul 20, 2014 7am to 2pm 
CDTWhere: Southwe… http://t.co/TOz07y6HNU

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014

New Bike Event: Lampasas Hillacious Bike Tour – Lampasas, TX: When: Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:30am to 1:30pm 
CDTWho:… http://t.co/Xu6YGgEGoX

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 12, 2014


Tweets

Head For The Hills Bike Rally new 100 mile route on May 10 #bikerally http://t.co/7G1zpjRFsG pic.twitter.com/mYTS0ITGP4

— Head for the Hills (@HFTHillsRally) March 8, 2014

Nice long ride tonight. Thanks Neil for the Cinnamon rolls you never know what / who you might pull out of the… http://t.co/gcj6E2HhoX

— TX Adventure Racing (@txarclub) March 13, 2014

https://twitter.com/danielcurtin/status/443923440798412800

RT @BikeTexas: A couple of teens out enjoying spring break by bike just stopped by to borrow our air pump. We love that!

— Adventure Cycling (@advcyclingassoc) March 12, 2014

We have 13 racers coming down for T-State Ultra RR this weekend. #SharkAttack

— Texas Tech Cycling (@TechCycling) March 12, 2014

Got my new @NinerBikes RLT last week. Awesome on road and trail. Can't wait for gravel races. Thanks @BSS_Austin! pic.twitter.com/1iOW7B1lEs

— Jeremy (@fontarin) March 12, 2014

Many volunteers needed for TTH 03/30. auto-enter for drawing for gold coin from @Americangold&diamond. contact Carole, cbd882@yahoo.com

— Tyler Bicycle Club (@TylerBikeClub) March 12, 2014

RT @AustinBcycle: We shattered another @bcycle record on Tue @ #SXSW w/ 2057 bike checkouts, over 7 checkouts/bike #TacoPoweredTransit…

— Movability (@Movability) March 12, 2014

Dallas Racing Tuesday Night Crit; Week 1 http://t.co/pWZaJywCnu

— Chris Degenaars (@ChrisDegenaars) March 12, 2014

Lets give Ariana another chance! 8am March 16th, Crazy Cat Cyclery, 6625 Montana Ave,Marrow Registry Ride #BETHEMATCH pic.twitter.com/GtoCQKequF

— Crazy Cat Cyclery (@CrazyCatCyclery) March 12, 2014

Riders from @Texas4000 will be volunteers @ShinerGASP again this year! Join them for Day 1 of their 70 day trip: http://t.co/Ae7CulemPM

— Ride to Shiner (@ShinerGASP) March 12, 2014

You Won’t Believe Why Bike Prices Keep Going Up! http://t.co/0bRX637F1z

— Texas MTB Trails (@TexasMTBtrails) March 12, 2014

Taking my sweet time getting ready for my ride today. Problem is this wind isn't going anywhere. Thinking out/back North/South route.

— Mario Arroyave (@marroyave35) March 12, 2014

Austin helping to feed cyclists while they mend. http://t.co/TEYA37Zx0O

— W Preston Tyree (@SmartCyclist) March 12, 2014

El Paso City Council postpones discussion on bike lanes for a week http://t.co/5RcBI1NVJK

— EP Cyclists (@EPCyclists) March 12, 2014

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Twitter
Posted in Bicycling News | Leave a reply

Starting With the Weather

Texbiker.net Posted on March 12, 2014 by Rick AnkrumDecember 9, 2016

A while back I read about a famous writer. He had a number of rules he followed and he said they may have helped with his success. One of his rules was to not start with the weather. I am not a famous writer but I thought I would follow this rule. Today though I have to start with the weather.

Yesterday I said I would probably not get to ride because of the cold front that would arrive early this morning. Well that changed once the front arrived. The temperature kept going up and by the time I got ready to ride it was 68 degrees. The sky was clear and the air was clean. The reason it was clean was the wind. When I left at 2:17 the wind was from the NNW at 21 mph with 34 mph gusts. I knew this would be a bear to ride in. My normal ride rotation pointed to a north route. This is good because I think it is best to start a ride into the wind and finish with the wind. By the time I got home at 4:56 the wind was from the N at 26 mph with 34 mph gusts.

The wind was a brute. Every time I rode into the wind my speed dropped to 11 or 12 mph. I went up a gear on my rear cassette to try and lower the effort and maybe increase my speed. It didn’t work very well and I continued to battle the wind until I reached Cumberland Blvd on FM1314. This was my turn around point and I was ready. Going SE on FM1314 the wind was at my back I was able to ride at 20 mph or more all the way to Valley Ranch Parkway where I stopped at the Stripes station. I sat on a plastic pallet in the sun drinking my Diet Pepsi and eating a trail mix bar and two cookies. The sun warmed my leg warmers and my position was out of the wind. I unzipped my windbreaker to let some of the perspiration evaporate since this jacket does not have any vents. I wore this jacket thinking the wind would be chilly but the riding effort and sun kept me warm.

Leaving the Stripes station I went north on Valley Ranch Parkway into the wind. It was hard pedaling and I went slow. At Valley Ranch Bend Drive turning east put the wind at my back where it stayed for most of the ride home. Riding with the wind was not long enough to raise my average speed above 15 mph and I ended up at 14.5 mph average speed over the 30.33 mile route. March now totals 230.92 miles leaving 274 to reach the 505 mile goal for March. This week I biked 99.93 miles and 936 miles year to date.

Tomorrow’s forecast could repeat today without the wind. If that hold true I should be out biking.

[wppa type=”slide” album=”289″ size=”auto”][/wppa]

[iframe http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/459967777 470px 570px]

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2336446/embed 95% 700px]

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Twitter
Posted in Bike Ride | Tagged Bike Ride Report, Motobecane Le Champion CF, Oakhurst - Cumberland - Valley Ranch, Road | Leave a reply

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →
©2026 - Texbiker.net - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑